2021 United States Wine

Just what you'd hope for in a top California Merlot, including ripe currant and berry fruit, a whiff of wild herb and a soft, supple, finish. Wine Enthusiast describes it well in their 90 point review, Lively lavender aromas... Read More

As always, a benchmark interpretation of Virginia's most prominent red wine grape made in a rich but balanced and highly drinkable style. The 92 point review of the 2020 gives you a great idea of what to expect: Charming aromas... Read More

At once rich and juicy, this is a terrifically drinkable Russian River Chardonnay with a definite luxury feel. Barrel fermented and aged (33% new oak), it delivers intense peach, apricot and tropical fruit aromas and flavors with... Read More

Pinot from Carneros, at the southern end of Napa/Sonoma, gives a distinctive blend of freshness (from the cold bay nearby) and heft (from the clay-rich soils). This is a great example, serving up bold black cherry and blackberry... Read More

Cade’s Estate Cabernet shows Howell Mountain power and grip in a softer, more accessible, style. As Jeb Dunnuck says in his 93 point review, “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain comes almost all from the estate... Read More

A rich, creamy, smooth, Napa Cabernet crafted from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petite Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc grown across Napa and aged 16 months in French oak. Black cherry and currant fruit in a chocolate wrapper is given... Read More

This 15 acre vineyard was planted in 2001 and purchased by Joe and Pat Campbell in 2009 where they built a home – and a clay tennis court. The east-facing Pommard and Dijon 115 vines give a terrific blend of rich red fruit... Read More

Lower ABV A deeply fruited Pinot that invites solo sipping and has the minerality and structure to shine with salmon, mushrooms and roasted birds. It’s mostly Chehalem Mountain fruit with around 25% from Ribbon Ridge and... Read More

Ken Wright has owned Canary Hill Vyd in the Eola Hills since 2006 and keeps almost all of it for himself. In 2019 and 2021, though, he allocated a little fruit to Kelley, just enough to make 151 cases of pure joy. It's a dark-fruited,... Read More

Tasting for a couple of hours with Kelley can leave one in a bit of a buzzed daze – not because of alcohol (we were spitting, honest!), but because topic after topic comes up, images are evoked and allowed to fade, and very... Read More

The vines Jim Maresh planted on their own roots back in 1970 is today arguably the best, and certainly one of the most important, vineyards in the Dundee Hills. Jim’s grandson uses almost all the fruit for his Arterberry... Read More

Love the dark, smoky, intensity of wines grown on the volcanic Jory soils of the Dundee Hills? Well, then this is your Ken Wright because it delivers that rich depth for sure. The vineyard actually belongs to Ken’s son,... Read More

Ken’s signature wine and, arguably, Willamette Valley’s signature vineyard. Wine Advocate has suggested that Shea is the Willamette Valley’s one potential “superstar” vineyard and Ken makes the benchmark... Read More

Organic/Bio One of the most popular – and fine value – Willamette Valley Pinots for years, Thea’s showcases deep fruit and herbal, smoky, complexity. As Vinous says in their 92 point review, “A smoky blend... Read More

The first vintage overseen from start-to-finish by the former team at Quilceda Creek pushes Matthews to the very top-tier of Columbia Valley Cab houses. This is their Bordeaux blend of roughly equal parts Cabernets Sauvignon and... Read More

A fun contrast to the Meyers Spitfire, this is also from Oakville but done entirely in French oak (60% new). A lovely sense of spice and wild herb here. As Wine Enthusiast says in the 93 point review, “Delicious red and... Read More

Matt Meyer is the son of Silver Oak founders Bonny and Justin Meyer, and this is from the Napa estate vineyard where Silver Oak first grew wine before moving its focus to Alexander Valley. As with Silver Oak, this is aged in new... Read More

Luc Morlet still consults at Peter Michael while making his own wine that sits right up there with Peter Michael in terms of quality and depth. This is a stunner, perfectly balancing richness of texture with bold fruit and deep... Read More

We like Wine Spectator's description so much, we're going to use it here: Rich and bold up front, offering plenty of honeysuckle and spice notes. A drizzle of wildflower honey and a toast detail complement flavors of apricot... Read More

Jayson started in 1993, as winemakers Helen Turley, Bob Levy and Randy Dunn were tasting with winery founder Jayson Pahlmeyer and wondering what to do with some extra barrels of red that didn't quite fit in the Pahlmeyer blend.... Read More

An American classic, Jayson Pahlmeyer's Bordeaux blend red delivers loads of ripe fruit, plush texture, and enough structure to give everything shape and keep it compelling to drink. Very limited.

Corine Vyd (called Olenik through 2018) sits just down the hill from Lia’s and right beyond the boundary Ribbon Ridge in the Chehalem Mountain AVA. It's in the middle of a south-facing hillside with this block near the... Read More

Unique among wines in the Patricia Green Cellar, this is a barrel selection - vs a single vineyard wine - that's made with extra lees contact and aged in 100% new French oak. In 2021, seven of 15 barrels came from the Estate... Read More

Sure, this will be better in five years. But compelling tonight with a decant!

Always one of Napa's best. As Jeb Dunnuck said of the 94 point 2019, A beautiful Merlot, the 2019 from PlumpJack offers everything you could want from this variety with its plump, fleshy, medium to full-bodied profile as well... Read More