Picking out Sonoma County wines that will impress This is a gorgeous pinot noir with tangy fruit and vibrant acidity. It’s concentrated with both red and black fruit, layered with earthy and spice notes. Lingering finish. Impressive.

Top 100 American Wines of 2018 - #100

2018’s Most Memorable Wines – and Moment Vineyard of the Year Zena Crown Vineyard in the Eola-Amity AVA in Oregon has consistently produced some of Oregon’s most impressive wine for the Good Vitis palate. The 115 acre vineyard, planted in the early 2000s, was more recently purchased by Jackson Family Wines who created a winery, called Zena Crown, to showcase its qualities. Additionally, some fruit from the vineyard is sold to several notable wineries, including Beaux Frères and Soter, not to mention the wineries listed below. The vineyard is planted on a southwest-facing slope of volcanic soil that begins at 300 feet of elevation and tops out at 650 feet. It is divided into 17 blocks, each of which has a unique combination of gradient, aspect, soil depths. Vines include a variety of pinot noir clones. All told, the vineyard is quite capable in producing a diversity of pinot noir wine. In 2018, we were lucky enough to try a variety of wines made from Zena Crown Vineyard’s goods, including some tasted in the region. Not all were scored, but several were written about on Good Vitis, including: 2015 Penner Ash Zena Crown vineyard pinot noir – Using fruit from [Lynn Penner-Ash’s] exclusive contract on block 8 of the esteemed Zena Crown vineyard, it’s a downright impressive and captivating wine: meaty on the nose, juicy on the palate and fun and serious at the same time. The diversity of flavors and aromas include graphite, salt and pepper, iron, baking spice, mint and a cornucopia of red and black fruit that are silky in their sweetness. It has a decadence to it, however the retained acid prevents it from actually becoming sappy or heavy. What a wine. Unscored, but worthy of mid-90s.

Our Favourite Pinot Noir for Turkey Folks all too often reach for a really oaky white or big bold red when delving into a Christmas meal, but we’ve found the perfect balance to get the most out of your Christmas feast. Pinot Noir is a really interesting grape variety - as there are countless expressions based on where it is produced. From France to Germany, New Zealand to Oregon and California to Canada (yep, there’s even PN in Canada!) - each glass is completely different. Today, our journey takes us to Oregon, where we believe we’ve found the perfect Pinot for that festive feast. Enjoy! This beauty of Oregon is considered one of the great Pinot examples from the area and luckily for us, we can now find it here in England. Spiced plum, chocolate and sweet red cherry jump out immediately, packing a punch of flavour with each sip. The slight hint of oak rounds out the palate in this rich, sumptuous and incredibly well made Pinot Noir. The wine finishes with freshly ground cocoa powder notes on the finish. It’s ripe, refined and full of flavour!

The Perfect Christmas Wines For The Holiday Season Spiced plum, chocolate and sweet red cherry jump out immediately from this wine, packing a punch of flavour with each sip. The slight hint of oak rounds out the palate in this rich, sumptuous and incredibly well-made Pinot Noir. The wine finishes with freshly ground cocoa powder notes on the finish. It’s ripe, refined and full of flavour.

Holiday wines and gift ideas Wonderful Syrah that is strong all-around, but especially forward on the palate with beautiful fruit, exceptional balance and an extended finish featuring lingering fruit and complexity.

Shortages are looming, so buy your holiday wines now Drinking at home has its advantages, beginning with the cost. Our wine expert has some tasty wine suggestions that will still keep your holiday entertaining budget in check. The holiday party season is in full swing leaving more decisions about which wines to buy whether you are entertaining at home or heading out to celebrate with friends... The good news is drinking at home has its advantages, beginning with a cost cut of at least 50 per cent. That’s right, the home wine list is sans any markups in restaurants or bars, but while drinking twice as much for the same price is attractive we suggest spending 20 or 30 per cent more and drinking better while still saving money. Here are our suggestions: ...Pinot Noir will be in demand and you will need a pair:...Murphy-Goode Pinot Noir 2016, California.

Tom Simoneau's Wines of the Year 2018 Best Value Red: Murphy-Goode, 2016 Pinot Noir, California, $15 It’s been said you can’t make a good Pinot for under $25. Well I’m here to tell you Dave Ready Jr., Winemaker for Murphy-Goode has and the list price is $15. And the wine is often discounted. Pour this baby blind with some high priced Pinots and it will hold its own. Showing cherry berry fruit and bright acidity.

Giving the gift of fine wine And now two wines that will make any red wine drinker fall in love with Merlot again, thanks to Jackson Family Wines and winemaker Christopher Carpenter. Carpenter established a premier reputation as the longtime winemaker at the highly regarded Kendall-Jackson owned wineries Cardinale and Lokoya. “If farmed right in the proper locations and treated similar to cabernet sauvignon, merlot can be great, just as it is in other countries.” In this case Carpenter is talking about the high-elevation vineyards that source the 2015 Mount Brave and 2015 La Jota. These are serious, complex, full-bodied wines. Mount Brave, from vineyards on Mount Veeder, is fleshy with deep fruit, cocoa, spice and mint. LaJota, from Howell Mountain, is densely packed with earth, mocha, spice and lovely freshness.

The Weekly Dozen Both this wine and the La Jota below are Merlots owned by Jackson Family Wines and made by winemaker Chris Carpenter. There the similarities end. This west side Napa mountain wine is dark and murky, a seriously complex wine with mature fruits and savory hints of the forest with integrated tannins – just marvelous.

The quiet wines of Winter Solstice A 2012 Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Napa merlot evoked the first time I stopped to smell the roses (came to appreciate the magic and possibilities of Napa reds). My first experiences of yore were from the similar wines of Peter Rubissow and his father George’s classic Les Trompettes, a blend of Mt. Veeder merlot and cabernet Franc. Rubissow was one of my early mentors. The Mt. Brave has power, depth, history and a long evolution from bottle to decanter to glass to mouth. Redwood, eucalyptus, dark earth, bold cranberry and dried cherries evoke the seasonal spirit and simply beg for lamb chops with mint jelly.

At the end of each year, I look back over the wines I've tasted and put together a list of the best of the year. The Top 5 Wines of 2017 featured selections from California, Washington, Virginia and Australia. This year's top wines come from California, Australia and Italy. Here they are in no particular order. Chris Carpenter also mades a mean cabernet sauvignon. This example for Mt. Veeder in the Napa Valley earned a well-deserved spot on this list - the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon* produced & bottled by Mt. Brave.

My Favorite Wines of 2018 Include Plenty That Are Remarkable Bargains Matanzas Creek in Santa Rosa has been making wine on what was once a dairy farm since 1997 (now under the Jackson Family group), and since 2010 winemaker Marcia Torres Forno has transformed the estate’s production of Sauvignon Blanc through new plantings and harvesting techniques. They now make five different bottlings from the varietal—highly unusual for a California winery—and the result is wines that are creamier and more refreshing without the cloying punch-like flavors of so many others. I love this with grilled chicken or seafood during the summer, and it’s excellent paired with cheeses.

At the end of each year, I look back over the wines I've tasted and put together a list of the best of the year. The Top 5 Wines of 2017 featured selections from California, Washington, Virginia and Australia. This year's top wines come from California, Australia and Italy. Here they are in no particular order... While it may still be viewed as controversial by some, merlot indeed can make great wine - especially when made by winemaker, Chris Carpenter. The 2015 Merlot* vinted & bottled by La Jota Vineyard Co. was bold, yet nuanced.

Giving the gift of fine wine And now two wines that will make any red wine drinker fall in love with Merlot again, thanks to Jackson Family Wines and winemaker Christopher Carpenter. Carpenter established a premier reputation as the longtime winemaker at the highly regarded Kendall-Jackson owned wineries Cardinale and Lokoya. “If farmed right in the proper locations and treated similar to cabernet sauvignon, merlot can be great, just as it is in other countries.” In this case Carpenter is talking about the high-elevation vineyards that source the 2015 Mount Brave and 2015 La Jota. These are serious, complex, full-bodied wines. Mount Brave, from vineyards on Mount Veeder, is fleshy with deep fruit, cocoa, spice and mint. LaJota, from Howell Mountain, is densely packed with earth, mocha, spice and lovely freshness.

The Weekly Dozen From the upper east side, it is juicy and tangy – a wild ride with rich fruit and good minerality and acidity.

15 wine gift ideas for any budget In addition to Merlot (90%), some Petit Verdot (10%) was also blended in. All of the fruit comes from their Howell Mountain Estate and nearby W.S. Keyes Vineyard. This wine represents what truly great Merlot can achieve when grown in the correct spot and tended properly afterwards. Blackberry, boysenberry and black currant are evident from the first whiff through the palate. Also present are wisps of spice and espresso. Chocolate covered cherries and graphite emerge on the long, structured finish.

A classic in the making; revealing shades of personality, from sultry to burly and back. A.

It’s Cabernet season in Napa Valley, which means it’s the perfect time of year to stock up on cellar-worthy selections for yourself, or as gifts for other wine enthusiasts in your life. Of the new releases I’ve tried, these are my favorites. They’re likely to be some of your favorites, too. (Some choices were sent for editorial consideration.)... On Howell Mountain, La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon layers chocolate, espresso, cherry, and cedar.

Picking out Sonoma County wines that will impress A tasty pinot with bright notes of red fruit — cherry, raspberry and rhubarb. Hint of red plum. A touch earthy. Balanced. A steal for the quality.

A tasty pinot with bright notes of red fruit –– cherry, raspberry and rhubarb. Hint of red plum. A touch earthy. Balanced. A steal for the quality. 3½ stars.

An incredible price on wine of this quality! A burst of juicy fruit along with some smoky oak. Rated 91 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine.

25 good California wines that you can get for $25 or less Monterey is a large and somewhat undervalued cool-climate region that makes distinctive chardonnay. Wilfred Wong: “Always a favorite in my household and amongst my friends, the La Crema Monterey Chardonnay has often been one of our first choices when looking for an entrée wine. The 2016 vintage is bright with focused citrus peel, racy minerality, and just a touch of oak. Pair its brightness with a tray of plump raw oysters.”

Wine of the Week This iconic California winery is best known for its top-selling chardonnay but also makes some top-notch reds. The grapes for this Sonoma County vintage are all estate grown — 81 percent cabernet sauvignon, 9 percent petit verdot, 5 percent merlot, 3 percent cabernet franc and 2 percent malbec. The blend brings some additional fruit and berry flavors to this medium-bodied wine that spends 16 months in barrels before bottling. It would pair nicely with a holiday prime rib or any other red meat on your menu. Sherry: “Deep rich color with a bouquet of black currant and dry, strong tannins with flavors of black currant, black cherry and blueberry.” (3.5 stars out of 5) Chris: “A bouquet of plum and spice with flavors of cherry and blueberry and long, dry tannins.” (3.5 stars out of 5)

Sauvignon Blanc Masters 2018: Master