Wine Reviews

Savory notes of Pekoe tea, wild strawberry, mineral-toned soil, and cherry cola are a claim to fine production and Carneros terroir. Barrel notes are spiced and warming, with a refined mouthfeel dotted with black pepper.

Stunning clarity, with honeysuckle, lemon drop, chamomile flowers, and pineapple sorbet. Glassy mouthfeel has a burst of salinity. Elegant and poised, with a slight French accent.

In 1976, Mike Grgich, then winemaker at Chateau Montelena, shocked the wine world when his Chardonnay took first place at the Judgment of Paris. The acclaimed Napa Valley winery he went on to establish now produces a worthy tribute to that achievement. Fermented with native yeast and aged 12 months in (40% new) French oak, it’s a fittingly multifaceted experience that starts with deep aromas of pear and persimmon dusted with vanilla and incense. Richly textured yet nimble, with a juicy vein of acidity, the palate adds lemon curd and kumquat to the mix before a delicately chalky finish.

Without lacking for elegance, this blend of 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Zinfandel, 21% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc is borderline exuberant on the nose, as notes of ruby grapefruit, white peach, and strawberry mingle with a bite of bubblegum and a wisp of smoke. On the supple, almost billowy palate, they join forces with red currant and an earthy finishing touch of white tea.

Barrel notes are clean, with burnished orange peel, baked apple, and a full mouthfeel.

Rich black fruit empowers sleek, muscular tannins, sinewy and seductive. Blueberry becomes creamier on mid-palate, with woodsy notes of spiced clove and cigar leaf. Elegant and refined.

This multi-dimensional red displays its prowess through depth of color, flavor, and texture with slathered notes of licorice, espresso, and graphite. Only at mid-point does the deep, dark black fruit make its entrance, finishing with grace.