United States Wine

Critic Notes

James Molesworth writes: Ripe, fresh and polished, this delivers unencumbered red and black cherry fruit notes laced with a tickle of tobacco, all backed by a just firm enough finish to keep this balanced and engaging. Drink now through 2025.  - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Notes

The 2021 Joel Gott Blend No. 815 Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of raspberries, blackberries, plum, and mocha with notes of cinnamon and cedar. The wine opens with red fruit flavors, followed by velvety tannins on the mid palate and notes of black pepper on the long, textured finish.

Beautifully integrated tropical flavors such as pineapple, mango and papaya, with citrus notes that explode in your mouth. These flavors delicately intertwine with aromas of vanilla and honey to create depth and balance throughout. A hint of toasted oak and butter rounds out the long, lingering finish. Winemaker Description. 

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points |  A well-rounded Chardonnay with a great combination of fruit and florals that elevates the overall drinking experience. Enjoy notes of green apple, lemon, lime, just-ripe apricot and mango and a hint of baby's breath.

Winemaker Description

Expert Review

James Suckling 92 Points | A bright and crisp white with sliced lemon, lime and hints of grass on the nose and palate. Flowers too. Medium-bodied, fresh and vivid. Hints of green papaya. Firm phenolics frame it. Drink now. 

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes | The 2021 Pinot Noir Oregon is composed of 60% fruit from the Willamette Valley, 40% fruit from the Umqua Valley, and a bit from the Rogue Valley. It pours a transparent medium ruby and is forward with somewhat primary and juicy aromas of ripe red berries, crushed flowers, and a hint of forest spice. Easy-drinking and medium-bodied, it lifts cleanly off the palate and is straightforward, with a lot of charm for early drinking. Bottled under screw cap. 

90 Points Wine & Spirits Magazine | This is a steal for the way its savor and black cherry collide on the palate. It starts off with an herbal riff on cut-leaf tobacco. The tannins are firm and a touch furry, but the wine’s acid buoy the flavors into a bright burst on the finish. 

Wnemaker Notes:

The warm growing season offers decadent aromas of boysenberry and dark cherry with layers of jasmine and fresh herbs helping to maintain freshness. An Oregon icon, this wine achieves the perfect balance between delicate and playful.

Blend: 97% Pinot Noir, 3% Syrah

Winemaker Description

Bright with a deep ruby core that lightens at the rim of the glass, with moderately thick, slow forming tears. Aromatic with ripe black cherry, red berries and blackcurrant fruit with spice notes of vanilla and cinnamon with fresh sage, subtle dried rose petal, and toasted oak. Nearly full-bodied with red plum, ripe bing cherry, and blackberry on entry with savory dried herbs, baking spice and toasted oak on the midpalate supported with balanced, fine tannins. The complex finish shows sustained ripe fruit and spice mixed with dried flower and camphor elements.

The 2020 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon is remarkably balanced and complex, with a fresh palate that not only invites another sip on its own, but also pairs well with a wide variety of dishes. Try this wine with grilled chicken or burgers at your next cookout or with a classic filet mignon at your favorite steakhouse.

Monterey’s combination of moderate climate and marine influences from the Pacific Ocean keep the grapes balanced and able to develop fully ripe flavors. A classic Central Coast Chardonnay, this wine offers tropical aromas of grilled pineapple with a hint of star fruit and vanilla.

Nicely balanced, Hess Select Chardonnay is medium-bodied with layers of sliced peaches and golden delicious apples, finishing crisp and clean with well-balanced acid. Winemaker Description. 

James Suckling writes: Aromas of cooked apple, yogurt and shaved pine. Some vanilla. It’s full-bodied with plenty of fruit and wood. The new oak dominates the palate now making it a little old school. But there’s plenty of good fruit underneath. If you want a full-throttle chard, here it is. Drink now. Screw cap. James Suckling 91

MaryAnn Worobiec writes: Features fresh-cut Fuji apple, ripe pear, salted melon, lime zest and hints of spices that are generous and smooth, with a note of buttery brioche lingering on the round finish. Drink now. - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description

This alluring Cabernet Sauvignon draws you in with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, mocha, savory blueberry and sweet baking spices. On the palate, silky tannins and a supple, rounded texture frame the voluptuous dark berry flavors, with notions of barrel spice adding nuance and complexity to the long, lush finish.

Winemaker Description

The wine owes much of its complexity to its varied upbringing, unifying grapes from California's most notable winegrowing regions. Meiomi Pinot Noir brings you structure and depth seldom seen in a Pinot Noir wine, thanks to its unique and meticulous aging process. Aged for six months in French oak barrels, this California red wine's juicy strawberry flavor and notes of dark berries and toasted mocha add complexity and depth on the palate.

Expert Rating (2021 Rating)

Tasting Panel 90 Points | Following dusky aromas of briar, cinnamon mocha, and dark cherry notes of tobacco and chocolate licorice coat the earthy palate Dense and syrupy blackberry jam mingles with cedar

Winemaker Description 

This rosé has lovely balance between the fresh fruit, fine tannins, good minerality and graceful acidity. It is the visual and taste portrait of the Hampton's high summer. Serve chilled, solo or as a complement to almost any food.

Radiant with a polished light copper hue, this rosé delivers sophistication with every sip. Immerse yourself in the bouquet of ripe, elegant fruits, complemented by floral notes reminiscent of rose petals and delicate strawberries. The mouthfeel is an explosion of fruity goodness, balanced by creamy yeast and underscored by playful acidity and classic minerality. Revel in the dry and savory character, and let the refreshing, satisfying, fruit-driven finish transport you. Versatile and food-friendly, this rosé is your ideal companion for a perfect summer soirée!

Serve chilled, solo or as a complement to almost any food. At cocktail parties, it will shine alongside hors d’oeuvres such as smoked salmon, lobster, shrimp, carpaccio and soft cheeses. It can also complement main-course fish and pork dishes, and at Thanksgiving, it is perfect with turkey.

Long Island, New York. Produced and bottled in Sagaponack, New York. 

James Suckling writes:  A chardonnay with excellent quality for the money with a phenolic tension and mineral and flint undertones. Serious and dry. Try it now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 92

Clive Pursehouse writes:  Subtle and bright citrus fruit aromatics, white flowers and honeyed apricots announce the Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. The palate is concentrated and pronounced with loads of poached apple and pear flavors; hints of nutmeg and lemon curd carry this wine to it conclusion.  - Decanter

Audrey Frick writes:  A bright yellow color, the 2022 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is highly aromatic and forward with notes of beeswax, yellow flowers and poached apples. Full-bodied and round, it has a sunny, decadent feel, with modest acidity, and will be best enjoyed over the near term.  Jeb Dunnuck 

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Shows rich and round flavors of apricot, peach and cream pastry, with notes of sour lemon candy and toasted, salted almond, plus a touch of grilled pineapple on the finish. Drink now.   - Wine Spectator 

Winemaker Notes:

The 2022 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is bright, forward, balanced and approachable. Enticing aromas of red apple, spice, nectarine, and baked bread lead into a broad textured, and creamy palate. With its cool-climate influences, this chardonnay has remarkable varietal intensity, balanced acidity and mineral notes that complement the flavors of fresh peach and honey. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Ratings

Winemaker Description

The 2021 Columbia Valley Chardonnay is crafted in a fresh, soft style with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to create this complex yet approachable, food-friendly style. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The Pinot Project Pinot Noir offers notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and cacao with a smooth, lingering finish. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins.

Expert Rating

Tasting Panel 91 Points Fruit from both estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley and top growers in the Dry Creek and Alexander valleys make up the blend of this well-structured red. Aromas of dark plum, oak, and coffee lead to firm tannins on the palate, where crushed violets teem in waves of mocha and boysenberry. Black pepper and Italian herbs season cedar and espresso on the finish .esn..St. Francis Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon offers classic aromas and flavors of ripe black currant, spicy tobacco and cedar are accompanied by full body and firm structure. 

Expert Ratings 

James Suckling 92 Points | Notes of ripe cherries and dried cranberries with hints of toasted cloves and chocolate. Some ashes, too. Medium-bodied with juicy crunchiness and chalky tannin structure. Vivid acidity with fresh sour cherries at the end.  - James Suckling.

Wine Spectator Tim Fish writes | This shows focus and good energy, with lively plum and guava flavors accented by dusky spices and forest floor, finishing with medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2028. 

Winemaker Description

This lush and alluring Pinot Noir draws you in with aromas of black cherry, wild strawberry, red currant, black tea and sage, as well as rustic hints of earthy forest floor. On the palate, the generous ripe berry flavors are framed by bright, balanced acidity and refined tannins that carry the wine to a long, silky finish. 

Expert Reviews

Michaela Morris writes:  First overall in the sparkling category. Louis Roederer's outpost in California's cool Anderson Valley is a stylistic chip off the old block. The blend includes a considerable portion of reserve wine that's been oak-aged, making for a rich, weighty mouthful of creamy bubbles. Malolactic fermentation is suppressed in order to preserve acidity but a healthy dosage of 12g/l adds to its girth. What this sparkler lacks in zip, it makes up in texture and concentration. Lots of baked apple and toasted cashews here.  - Decanter 92

Eric Asimov writes:  Roederer Estate, the Mendocino County outpost of the excellent Champagne house Louis Roederer, has long been not only one of California’s biggest sparkling wine producers, but one of the best. This is, not surprisingly, made with Champagne grapes, pinot noir and chardonnay, but grown in Anderson Valley terroir. It doesn’t taste like Champagne. It’s more herbal, less mineral, but it’s got a good Champagne’s freshness and elegance. - Eric Asimov’s New York Times Article Dec. 21, 2023

Winemaker Description

This wine is rich and round, opening with aromas of Meyer lemon, apricot, vanilla, graham cracker, and buttered popcorn. The palate shows incredible depth with a full mouthfeel and layers of flavor. Ripe peach, pineapple, and caramel lead to hazelnut and baking spice notes on the finish.

This versatile Chardonnay pairs perfectly with seafood, poultry, white meats and dishes with cream sauces. Try preparations that include citrus, butter, cream, cheese, bacon, nutmeg, thyme, basil or toasted nuts.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling writes:  Mineral and sliced cooked apples with lemon zest and hints of vanilla. Medium-bodied with some phenolics and tension and a fruity finish. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 91

Audrey Frick writes:  The bright yellow 2022 Chardonnay Sonoma County is forward and ripe in the glass with aromas of ripe melon, tangerine, and sweet oak spices. Full-bodied, generous, and persistent on the palate, it has a rounded feel and a fresh lift on the finish. It’s a charming and ripe style to drink over the next year or two. Bottled under screwcap.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Generous and round, this shows notes of butterscotch, peach preserves and apple pastry on a ripe, creamy frame, with nutmeg and clove details on the finish. Drink now.   - Wine Spectator

Jonathan Cristaldi writes:  What a refined and expressive 2022 Rombauer Chardonnay that isn't even remotely styled in the over-the-top richness that public opinion would suggest. In short, get a bottle and be humbled if you think this is a butter bomb -- because it's not. Candied ginger and lemon peel aromatics with elegant baking spices. Round and warm on the palate with grip and expressive acidity, and attractive ginger and salted lemon peel notes. Enjoy this wine now for its youthful exuberance and refreshing acidity, or hold it for a few years and revel in the warming, rich character that will emerge, but above all, please make your best roast chicken ala Julia Child and live life to its fullest on that night—100% Chardonnay aged in 9 months in American and French oak barrels (30% new).  Drinking 2024 -2028.  - Decanter 92

Winemaker Description

Rich flavors of dark plum and black cherry with a hint of spice and ripe tannins with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, and dried cranberry. This vibrant, fruit forward wine is laced with flavors of toasted oak and hints of warm brown spice, and finishes with velvety tannins. Elegant and food friendly, this wine is sure to please.

Elegant and food friendly, this wine is sure to please. Enjoy it with grilled portobello mushroom burgers, grilled steak with blue cheese butter, braised short ribs, pizza with sausage and mushrooms, and aged cheeses.

Expert Rating

Silver Medal - 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Vinous 90 Points |  The 2022 Chardonnay Highland is a classy, elegant wine. Ripe pear, apricot, yellow flowers, chamomile, spice and tangerine peel open nicely. The 2022 balances fruit intensity with brightness quite well. Soft contours wrap it all up in style.

96 Points Wine Enthusiast | Very clean and round aromas of melon, white peach and orange blossom draw the nose into this bottling. The texture is chalky and the palate is quite savory with salt tones that decorate the baked nectarine and apple flavors

Debra 67Wine.com | This wine shows lovely flavors of ripe stone fruits, citrus and orchard apples . Balanced with aromas toasty oak, coconut and vanilla lead into a generous finish. 

Pair with cheeses, grilled chicken,  broiled fish and salad. Debra, California Chardonnay Buyer 

Fresh notes of Bosc pear, lemon zest, touches of pineapple, and subtle vanilla on the finish. Fresh and spicy.  Pairs effortlessly with fresh fish tacos and mango salsa. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Aromas of ripe cherry, cocoa, anise and rich baking spices. Plush flavors of cherry, plum and pomegranate meld with hints of delicate tea leaf. Structured, balanced acidity and elegant, firm tannins round out the mouth.

Expert Rating

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Both very well balanced and flavorful, this medium-bodied wine suggests red and black cherries backed by medium tannins for a good, appetizing grip in the texture. It’s a versatile wine for food pairings, and best through 2028.

91 Points Wine Spectator  | Offers a friendly mix of loganberry and damson plum allied to a bright, racy frame, with a nice piercing savory thread running through the finish.

91 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2021 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is floral and juicy, with ripe cherry, candied flowers, and sweet herbs. Medium-bodied and attractive on the palate, with more ripe mixed berries, fine tannins, and a supple, soft texture, this is a clean and very charming wine to drink over the next few years.

92 Points Wine Spectator | Intensely juicy, with wonderful purity to the pear, pineapple and tangerine flavors, notes of lemon blossoms and dashes of honey and spices. Shows mouthwatering acidity on the long, expressive finish, where a touch of minerality lingers.

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Well-balanced and rather light on its feet, this elegant but full-bodied wine complements lemon and lime notes with richer vanilla and butter nuances on a smooth and slightly tangy texture.

With a medium golden color and alluring layers of persimmon, ripe Meyer lemon and rich brioche this is an elegant and alluring wine. Lush, textural and beautifully complex on the palate, its bright citrus flavors and cool-climate energy showcase the poise and purity of great Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

This bold style Cabernet Sauvignon displays great complexity and structure. Slight pepper, round body, dried cherry, silky vanilla, concentrated with a long velvet finish.

Pair with - Blue Cheese, Dark Chocolate and Grilled or Roasted Duck, Beef or Veal. 

This fleshy medium bodied wine offers plentiful flavors of tropical fruit, baking spice, and zest, with an underlying subtle oak influence. Cambria Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard is harmoniously balanced with ample acidity and a buttery, creamy mouth coating finish.
- Debra, California Chardonnay Buyer 

Antonio Galloni writes: The 2021 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard Signature Collection is bright and super-focused. Citrus peel, mint, white flowers and tangerine peel all grace this exquisite, intense wine. The 2021 was fermented in tank and aged in barrel, of which 50% new. The Katherine's Vineyard comes from own-rooted vines planted in the 1970s. Readers should plan on giving this a bit of time, as it is quite nervous today. - Vinous 95

Jeb Dunnuck writes: Beautiful orchard fruits, toasted bread, and some sappy flower notes all emerge from the 2021 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant wine that has nicely integrated acidity as well as a supple, up-front, delicious style. - Jeb Dunnuck 91

Alder Yarrow writes: Smells of lemon curd and butterscotch. Flavours of lemon curd and white flowers have a nice mineral undertone and lemon-pith chalkiness. Excellent acidity with just a whiff of vanilla in the finish. - Jancis Robinson 16.5

MaryAnn Worobiec writes: Remarkably balanced, with details of fresh, crisp apple, citrus and pear that mingle with salted butter pastry and touches of brown sugar on a supple, creamy frame. Reveals a touch of lemongrass on the finish. Drink now. - Wine Spectator 90

Expert Rating

James Suckling 90 Points |  Blackberry fruit, oyster shells, sage and roasted herbs on the nose. It’s savory with a medium to full body and tight tannins. Nice freshness. Drink now or in the next few years.  (2021). 

Jeb Dunnuck 89 Points |  Coming from multiple sites throughout the Central Coast, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a juicy, medium-bodied, nicely balanced style in its ripe cherry and plum fruit as well as notes of ripe herbs and chocolate. It's a terrific value that brings plenty of classic Cabernet style. (2021). 

Erin Brooks writes:  The 2022 Fundamental Cabernet Sauvignon is scented of red and black cherries and nuances of allspice, milk chocolate, tobacco and cedar. The medium-bodied palate is approachable and easygoing, with an alluring combination of concentrated, spicy fruit and savory tones. It finishes with satisfying freshness.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Winemaker Notes

The J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay exhibits youthful hues of light straw. The enticing aromas are reminiscent of ripe orange, fresh nectarine, and hazelnut, which are complemented by the palate flavors of apricot, ripe peach, and honey. The rich texture and balance on the palate from aging sur lie gives way to flavors of vanilla, citrus cream, and a hint of oak on the long finish. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Ratings

90 Points Vinous | The 2020 Merlot Grand Estates is darkly floral and earthy with hints of animal musk and crushed blackberries. This washes across the palate with juicy acids that enliven its tart wild berry fruits. It leaves a mark of minerality along with a chewy blueberry skin concentration and hints of mocha. This is an excellent entry to the "value category" of Washington State Merlot.

90 Points James Suckling | Blackberries, tobacco, mint chocolate and dark cherries here, with a kiss of vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied with soft, ripe tannins and a creamy finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

This Merlot has round juicy flavors of dark plum and herb, finishes bold and structured with notes of vanilla and raspberry.

Pair this wine with blue cheese, duck, beef, veal and dark chocolate

Expert Ratings

93 Robert Parker | The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate was vinified with 40% whole clusters and matured in used oak. The nose is bursting with cranberry, pomegranate, mushrooms, woodsmoke and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate has a core of earth and spice-laced fruit. It has a frame of chalky tannins and juicy acidity and a long, nuanced finish. (v. 2022)

93 Points Wine Enthusiast |  Baked cherry and boysenberry aromas meet with dark earth, star anise and eucalyptus leaf aromas on the nose of this appellation cuvée. There's a rich body to the palate, but the ripe cherry flavor stays vibrant and energized, bolstered by green sage and lemon-peel elements. (2022).

Winemaker Description

The aromatics instantly permeate the glass, ripe red plums, cloves, and orange zest. When tasting, the flavors of Bing Cherry, raspberry and blackberry race over the entire palate and are followed by black tea and tarragon. A harmonious backbone of silky tannins and energetic acidity give this wine real verve.

91 Points Wine Enthusiast: Soft strawberry and watermelon aromas are cut by tangerine peel on the nose of this bottling. The palate has earthy tones of wet rocks and chalk, with well-integrated acidity pumping into the finish.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Notes